N.A. elaphe taxonomy

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Posted by Tom Lott on February 24, 2001 at 19:53:39:

In Reply to: elaphe taxonomy posted by troy h on February 23, 2001 at 14:57:33:

Troy,

I share your frustration, but I doubt that we will ever get any taxonomy done on this large, obviously artificial grouping except by the piecemeal approach.

According to Jerry G. Walls (yeah, I know, consider the source), the next available name for the North American "Elaphe" is "Pantherophis" coined, I believe, by Holbrook for what is now E. guttata. Walls even wrote a popular article for his TFH mag using this generic combination as if it were a done deal.

I notice that your grouping would include E. bairdi as a part of obsoleta. I would tend to agree with that as I have always had a hard time with bairdi as a full species. I have seen too many "hybrids" from Medina, Bandera, and Kendall counties. Hybridization occurring that frequently should perhaps be thought of as "intergradation." Besides that, most of the E. o. lindheimeri from immediately south of the Balcones Escarpment in that area sport discernable dusky stripes in their dorsal pattern.

I take it also that you would reject emoryi as a full species separate from guttata? I too think that this is the more logical arrangement and that there is very likely contact between these two forms in E. Texas and N. Louisiana.

Joe Collins would be crushed!

Salud,

Tom Lott

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Re: N.A. elaphe taxonomy troy h 02/26/01 (0)

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: Troy, : I share your frustration, but I doubt that we will ever get any taxonomy done on this large, obviously artificial grouping except by the piecemeal approach. : According to Jerry G. Walls (yeah, I know, consider the source), the next available name for the North American "Elaphe" is "Pantherophis" coined, I believe, by Holbrook for what is now E. guttata. Walls even wrote a popular article for his TFH mag using this generic combination as if it were a done deal. : I notice that your grouping would include E. bairdi as a part of obsoleta. I would tend to agree with that as I have always had a hard time with bairdi as a full species. I have seen too many "hybrids" from Medina, Bandera, and Kendall counties. Hybridization occurring that frequently should perhaps be thought of as "intergradation." Besides that, most of the E. o. lindheimeri from immediately south of the Balcones Escarpment in that area sport discernable dusky stripes in their dorsal pattern. : I take it also that you would reject emoryi as a full species separate from guttata? I too think that this is the more logical arrangement and that there is very likely contact between these two forms in E. Texas and N. Louisiana. : Joe Collins would be crushed! : Salud, : Tom Lott

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N.A. elaphe taxonomy

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